Closure means for stock cars



mm 23, 3935. ogm ZMSQIGS CLOSURE MEANS FOR STOCK CARS Filed'Deo. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q J/vv/z/vfa/e KENNETH J 755W ATTX @ 23, 1935. K. J. TO BIN CLOSURE MEANS FOR STOCK CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deg. 14, 1954 Patented June 23, 1936 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE MEANS FOR STOCK CARS I of Ohio Application December 14, 1934, Serial No. 757,482

16 Claims.

This invention relates to stock cars and more specifically to closure means for the openings provided therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide stock cars which shall incorporate closure means presenting simplification of structure and reduction of cost over known stock car closures.

A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars involving a reduction in the fixtures required.

A further object is to provide stock cars having closure means associated with the sides thereof whereby to eliminate fixtures required for the known types of stock car closures.

A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars disposed inwardly of the outer sides of the cars and which shall be protected against damage to the livestock by the sides of the cars.

A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars having flexibility of control of the openings provided in the sides of the cars not heretofore attained.

A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars having the characteristic that the amount of exposure of the openings in said cars may be controlled at will.

A further object is to provide stock car closure means which, when utilized with double deck stock cars, is capable of exposing either deck of the car while maintaining the other deck closed.

A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars by means of which the movement of the closure means is facilitated. 4 A further object is to provide closure means for stock cars comprising a plurality of slats adapted for independent and selective operation to control openings provided in the sides of the cars.

A further object is to provide novel means for securing stock car closure means of the invention in closed position.

A further object is to provide stock cars having the sides and the closure means thereof formed of slats generally channel shaped in section and in which the car side slats and closure slatsare substantially of the same cross sectional configuration. s

A further object is to provide stockcars having the sides and closure means thereof formed of slats disposed in telescoping relation.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification. v

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a stock car embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 I of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken of Figure 1. 7

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a side of a stock car designated generally by the reference numeral Ill. The side I comprises a plurality of spaced slats I I secured to vertical and diagonal bracing members I2 and I3, respectively, in a manner hereinafter referred to. The slats I I extend between the side plate I4 of the car and the floor I thereof. The latter is supported upon the side sill I6 and upon an angle member I1 secured to the side sill as by means of rivets I8; The vertical and diagonal bracing members I2 and I3 may be secured to the side plate and side sill in any desired manner. In Figure 1 of the drawings rivets and gusset plates are shown utilized for this purpose. v

The side plate and side sill define the upper and lower horizontal boundaries of an opening I9 provided in the car side ID. The forward vertical margin of said opening is defined by means of the vertical post secured to the side plate and side sill. A similar vertical post 2| secured to the side plate and the side sill is disposed somewhat rearwardly of the rear edge of the opening I9, this edge being defined by the ends of the car side slats I I which project forwardly beyond the post 2|. These projecting ends of the car side slats are reinforced by means of a wooden member 22 which serves additionally to prevent injury to the livestock transported in the car by engagement with sharp edges which may be presented by the ends of the slats.

The slats employed in the car side construction are preferably channel shaped in section and, as clearly illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, embody a web 23 and converging flanges 24 and 25 extending from said web. The slats I I are so disposed that a channel is presented by said slats opening outwardly and are so arranged that the webs 23 thereof are positioned in inwardly spaced relationship to the vertical and diagonal braces which define the framing members for the car side.

In View of the utilization of the slats I I as hereinafter explained it is desirable that they be fastened to the framing member so that the on line 5-5 channels presented by the slats shall be unobstructed. One form of fastening means by which this result may be obtained is illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings. This fastening means takes the form of a substantially U shaped member 26 the bight 21 of which lies against the web 23 of the slat The branches 28 and 29 of the U shaped fastener are disposed, respectively, above and below the slat. The ends of these branches extend through openings provided in the framing member, these ends bein up-set to provide rivet heads 39 and 3| for fastening these members to the framing member and for retaining the slats in their desired position. It will be apparent that other forms of fastening means by which the hereinbefore indicated result may be achieved may be utilized in place of the fastening means illustrated and described.

Closure means is provided inorder to close the opening l9 provided in the car side I9. This closure means preferably takes the form of a plurality of slats 32 whose cross-sectional configuration approximates that of the car side slats Thus, the closure slats 32 are substantially channel shaped in section and comprisea web 33 and converging flanges 34 and 35 extending therefrom. Each of the closure slats is so arranged that it may be disposed within the channels provided in aligned car side slats on opposite sides of the opening I9. This association of the car side and closure slats is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. It will thus be apparent that each of the closure slats 32 is slidably supported for unimpeded movement within car side slats II and that in the opening movement of the slats toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings, the closure slats will be telescoped within the car side slats I I. It is preferred and illustrated that each of the closure slats 32 shall operate independently of the other closure slats. By this provision it will be apparent that greater flexibility of control of the opening l9 may be had. Where smalllivestock are to be loaded into the car or unloaded therefrom it will be clear that only a few of the lowermost closure slats need be moved topermit such loading or unloading without disturbing the remaining slats. Similarly, where the invention is utilized in a double deck stock car it is possible to expose either deck for loading or unloading while maintaining the closure slats across the opening of the other deck.

Sliding movement of the closure slats 32 may be facilitated by the provision of hand grips 36 which may be fastened as by means of rivets to theflanges 34 and 35 of the slats. It is preferred, also, to utilize stop means, these being illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings as rivets 31, to limit the opening movement of the closure slats, the stop means being so disposed that the hand grips 36 will stop short of the post 2| in the full open position of the slats, thereby facilitating grasping of the hand grip 36 in order to return the closure slats to their closed position. Movement in the closing direction may also be limited by means of rivet stops 38.

Means is provided in order to secure the closure slats 32 in closed position against unauthorized opening movement thereof. To this end there is utilized a vertically extending member 39 preferably in the form of an angle, pivotally supported as indicated at 40 upon the car side for swinging movement toward and away from the closure slats 32. In its operative position one leg of opening,

the angle member 39 is adapted to lie to the rear of the closure slats 32 and is preferably disposed so as to abut an out-turned flange 42 provided at the rear edge of the closure slats. The flange 42 may be formed by stopping the flanges 34 and 35 of each slat short of the end of the web 33 thereof and then bending said web outwardly. The leg 4| of the angle member 39 is so constructed that it provides a plurality of tongues 43 adaptedto extend into the channel provided by each of the car side slats so as to lie across the path of opening movement of the closure slats 32.

The angle member 39 of the fastening means may be actuated by means of a lever 44 pivotally secured so as to swing in a vertical plane to a bracket 45 secured in any desired manner to the angle member 39. The lever 44 is provided with a portion 46 substantially rectangular in section and providing an opening 41. The portion 46 of the lever is adapted to be received between housing members 48 and 49 provided on a bracket 50 secured to certain of the car side slats. A pin 5| carried by the bracket 50 is adapted to be extended through the aligned openings fomned in the portion 46 and in the housing members 48 and 49 to secure the lever 44 in position. A seal (not shown) may be utilized to indicate unauthorized disengagement of the lever. By this means the angle member 39 may be secured to prevent opening movement of the closure slats 32.

It will be apparent that the foregoing construction provides for ease of repair or replacement of any of the slats.

l Numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes he comprerended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side, said closure means comprising a plurality of spaced slats adapted to extend across and close said said closure slats being slidably supported by said car side slats during movement to control said opening.

2. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats providing channels, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side, said closure means comprising a plurality of spaced slats adapted to extend across and close said opening, said closure slats telescoping within the channels of said car side slats during movement to open position.

' 3. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats providing outwardly opening channels, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side, said closure means comprising a plurality of spaced slats adapted to extend across and close said opening, said closure slats telescoping within the channels of said car side slats during movement to open position.

4. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side, said closure means comprising a plurality of independently movable spaced slats adapted to extend across and close said opening, said closure slats being slidably supported by said car side slats during movement to control said opening.

5. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side, said closure means comprising a plurality of spaced slats adapted to extend across and be slidably supported by the car side slats on opposite sides of said opening to close said opening.

6. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats providing channels, closure means for closing said opening comprising a plurality of spaced slats similar in cross-sectional configuration to the car side slats adapted to extend across and close said opening, said closure slats being slidably supported by said car side slats during movement to control said openmg.

7. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats substantially channel shaped in section, closure means for closing an opening provided in said car side comprising a plurality of independently movable substantially channel shaped slats, each of said closure slats telescoping within aligned car side slats on opposite sides of said opening to close said opening, each of said closure slats being slidable within a car side slat to expose said opening.

8. In a stock car having a car side provided with an opening, said car side comprising a plurality of framing members and a plurality of spaced slats secured to the inner face of said framing members and providing outwardly opening channels, the web of said channels being spaced inwardly from the inner face of said framing members and closure means for said car side opening, said closure means comprising slats slidable within the channels of said car side slats.

9. In a stock car having a car side provided with an opening, said car side comprising a plurality of framing members and a plurality of spaced substantially channel shaped slats and means for securing said slats to said framing members while preserving the integrity of the channels presented by said slats.

10. In a stock car having a car side provided with an opening, said car side comprising a plurality of framing members and a plurality of spaced substantially channel shaped slats and substantially U shaped fastening means embracing said slats and secured to said framing members for fastening said slats to said framing mem bers whereby said fastening means does not encroach upon the channels presented by said slats.

11. In a stock car having a car side provided with an opening, said car side comprising a plurality of framing members and a plurality of spaced substantially channel shaped slats and substantially U shaped fastening means embracing said slats and secured to said framing members for fastening said slats to said framing members whereby said fastening means does not encroach upon the channels presented by said slats, and closure slats for said opening received within the channel shaped car side slats for unimpeded sliding movement.

12. In a stockcar having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats, an opening in said car side, closure means for said opening comprising a plurality of spaced slats slidably supported by said car side slats and means for fastening said closure slats in closed position, said means comprising a member adapted tobe disposed in the path of opening movement of said slats.

13. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats, an opening in said car side, closure means for said opening comprising a plurality of spaced slats slidably supported by said car side slats and means for fastening said closure slats in closed position, said means comprising a member adapted to be disposed against the rear edge of said closure slats.

14. In a stock car having a side comprising a plurality of spaced slats providing channels, an opening in said car side, closure means for said opening comprising a plurality of spaced slats slidably supported within the channels of said car side slats and fastening means for said closure slats, said fastening means having portions adapted to be disposed in said channels in the path of movement of said closure slats.

15. In a stock car having an opening in a side thereof, means slidably supported upon the car side adapted to extend across said opening and means adapted to be moved toward said car side across the path of opening movement of said first mentioned means to prevent opening movement thereof. a

16. In a stock car having a side comprising a. plurality of spaced slats providing outwardly opening channels, an opening in said car side, closure means for said opening comprising a plurality of spaced slats slidably supported in said channels and fastening means for said closure slats, said fastening means comprising a member having a plurality of tongues adapted to extend into said channels and across the path of movement of said closure slats and means for actuating said member.

KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

